NEWARK -- Kyle Palmieri scored the winning shootout goal before Cory Schneider made the clinching save to lift the Devils to a 5-4 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday at the Prudential Center.

Drew Stafford missed the first attempt for the Devils, while Brayden Point missed the first shot for the Lightning. Taylor Hall missed the Devils' second shot before Nikita Kucherov also missed for the Lightning.

The Devils forced overtime when Stafford tied the game with a power-play goal with 4:06 left in the third period when he batted in his own rebound out of mid-air after Nico Hischier fed him in front.

They then killed a Pavel Zacha penalty over the final 1:58 of regulation to force the extra frame.

Stafford's second goal helped the Devils tie it after a few defensive lapses fueled the Lightning's offense in the first two periods.

Greene and Severson were on the ice for the Lightning's three even strength goals for the first two periods, and poor positioning by the Devils led to all three goals.

After Vladislav Namestnikov slipped free for a first-period goal, Greene and Severson both converged on Steven Stamkos on a second-period break, allowing the Lightning forward to drop a pass to Nikita Kucherov, who tied the game a 3-3 with a clear shot from the left circle.

Later in the second, Greene and Severson were both pursuing a puck behind the net with Blake Coleman, and it slipped free in front of the net, where Stamkos gathered it and slid a shot past Cory Schneider.

The second-period lapses erased a first-period rally by the Devils, where they scored the final two goals of a five-goal frame to take a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. They were gifted the opening goal of the game when an innocent Drew Stafford shot from the far side of the right circle slipped under the pads of Lightning goalie Peter Budaj.

The Lightning struck back for two goals in a five minute stretch, with Namestnikov scoring on a high backhander in front of the crease at 7:33. Ondrej Palat gave Tampa a 2-1 lead at 12:21 with a power play goal from the slot.

Kyle Palmieri answered with his own power-play goal at 16:19 to tie the game, when he fired a shot from the top of the right circle into the upper right corner.

The Devils got another gift late in the first when defenseman Steven Santini banked a pass off the back boards. The punk bounced back through the crease, untouched by two Lightning players. That allowed Brian Gibbons to punch in his third goal of the season for a 3-2 lead at 19:08.

Santini carving out role

After defenseman Steven Santini was one of several blue liners fighting for a roster spot in training camp, He's settled into an every night role. Of the eight defensemen the Devils took on the opening roster, Santini is one of five to play each game -- along with Andy Greene, Damon Severson, John Moore and Will Butcher.

Santini has played his way to playing some time in the top defensive pairing with captain Andy Greene, and he is second to only Greene in average ice time. The second-year pro has been keeping things simple, and his teammates have noticed.

"He work hard, he goes about his business the right way for a young kid," goalie Cory Schneider said. "I think he's really mature and poised beyond his years. He works extremely hard at being prepared and ready, and that's a great attribute for a young player. He's obviously going to make mistakes or learn along the way. He knows what he needs to do to be effective. He's not trying to be somebody he's not out there."

Santini added his second assist of the season on Tuesday.

Next up

The Devils will practice in Newark on Wednesday before traveling to Ottawa for a 7:30 p.m. game on Thursday against the Senators. They will then travel back to New Jersey for a 7 p.m. game on Friday against the San Jose Sharks at the Prudential Center.

The Devils will then be off for one week before they play the Senators at home on Friday, Oct. 27, at the Prudential Center.